
The Issue
4.
What implied desire was ap-
parently the cause of the sin of Eve?
Gen. 3:5, 6.
NOTE.—"Eve had been perfectly happy
by her husband's side in her Eden home;
but, like restless modern Eves, she was
flattered with the hope of entering a higher
sphere than that which God had assigned
her. In attempting to rise above her orig-
inal position, she fell far below
it."—Pa-
triarchs and Prophets,
page 59.
5.
By contrast, what was Christ's
attitude toward equality with God?
Phil. 2:6, 7.
NOTE.—"[He] did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, but
emptied Himself, . . . being born in the
likeness of men." Phil. 2:6, 7, RSV.
"And Christ was not to exercise divine
power for His own benefit. He had come
to bear trial as we must do, leaving us
an example of faith and submission."—
The Desire of Ages,
page 119.
The Attack
6.
With what words did the tempter
preface his proposal that Jesus per-
form a miracle? Matt. 4:3 (last part).
Noxg.—"There came to the Saviour, as
if in answer to His prayers, one in the
guise of an angel from heaven. He [Satan]
claimed to have a commission from God to
declare that Christ's fast was at an end.
. . . The Saviour was faint from hunger,
He was craving for food, when Satan came
suddenly upon Him. . . .
"Though he appears as an angel of light,
these first words betray his character. 'If
Thou be the Son of God.' Here is the in-
sinuation of distrust. Should Jesus do what
Satan suggests, it would be an acceptance
of the doubt. The tempter plans to over-
throw Christ by the same means that were
so successful with the human race in the
beginning. . . . So now the tempter seeks
to inspire Christ with his own sentiments.
`If Thou be the Son of God.' The words
rankle with bitterness in his mind. In the
tones of his voice is an expression of utter
incredulity. Would God treat His own Son
thus? . . . 'If Thou be the Son of God,'
show Thy power by relieving Thyself of
this pressing hunger. Command that this
stone be made bread.
"The words from heaven, 'This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'
(Matt. 3:17), were still sounding in the
ears of Satan. But he was determined to
make Christ disbelieve this testimony. The
word of God was Christ's assurance of
His divine mission. He had come to live
as a man among men, and it was the Word
that declared His connection with heaven.
It was Satan's purpose to cause Him to
doubt that word."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 118, 119.
7.
Who did Satan suggest that Je-
sus was?
ANSWER.—"One of the most powerful of
the angels, he says, has been banished from
heaven. The appearance of Jesus indicates
that He is that fallen angel, forsaken by
God, and deserted by man. A divine being
would be able to sustain his claim by work-
ing a miracle; 'if Thou be the Son of God,
command this stone that it be made bread.'
Such an act of creative power, urges the
tempter, would be conclusive evidence of
divinity. It would bring the controversy
to an
end."—The Desire of Ages,
page 119.
The Victory
8.
By what means did Jesus meet
Satan's attacks? Matt. 4:4, 7, 10.
NOTE.
--"Jesus met Satan with the words
of Scripture. 'It is written,' He said. In
every temptation the weapon of His war-
fare was the Word of God. Satan de-
manded of Christ a miracle as a sign of
His divinity. But that which is greater
than all miracles, a firm reliance upon a
`thus saith the Lord,' was a sign that
could not be controverted. So long as
Christ held to this position, the tempter
could gain no advantage."—The
Desire of
Ages,
page 120.
9.
What weapon is the Christian
instructed to use in his stand against
the wiles of the devil? Eph. 6:17.
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